Washing-machine



(Nd ModeLy v J GI-LMAN.

WASHING MAO iN N0.'357,479. PatentedIeb.8,1887L ATTEST.

INVENTOR N. PETERS, Photo-Lithographer, wnhingi un. D. G

, NITED STATES JOHN M. GILMAN, OFLANSING, KANSAS.

WASHING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATIQN forming part. of Letters Patent No. 357,479, dated February a, 1887.

Application filed February 5, 1886. Serial No. 190,011. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN M. GILMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lansing, in the county of Leavenworth and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Washing-Machines; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

The main objections to allthat class of washing-machines commonly known as agita tors with which I am familiar is the formation of dead or still wateriu the circulartub machines the water is dead or still in the center, while in square, octagonal, and other water-receptacles, in which there are corners, the water is dead or still in said corners as well as in the center of the receptacle-aud their inability to wholly cleanse smallv articles of wearing-apparel-such as wristbands or cuffs, collars, and the like-which are usually more soiled than larger articles, in the same space of timeas that occupied in cleansing the larger articles.

Now, my invention has for its object to provide a machine in which every particle of water in the tub will be thoroughly agitated and set in motion, and by which the smaller articles of wearing-apparel above named will be thoroughly cleansed in the same time as the larger less soiled articles, and which will be simple-of construction and easy of operation; and it consists of the parts and combinations of parts, hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure l is a side elevation of my improved machine; Fig. 2, an enlarged perspective view of the agitators and attachments; Fig. 3, a detail view, and Fig. 4 a sectional view.

A represents the frame for supporting the tub or suds-receptacle B. This frame A consists of four uprights, connected near their lower ends by crossbars, on which rests aplatform, C, for the tub B, and top D, having a square or other suitably shaped opening through which the articles to be washed are placed in the tub. The top D is secured, by means of screws or other easily-removable B, so as to secure the same in position and at the same time permit of ready access thereto, should it become necessary to withdraw it. A platform, a, projects from one of the bottom timbers on one side of the frame. To this platform I firmly secure an upright, 12, and brace itin position by means of the rods 0, secured to the platform and upright. A guardplate, 07, is secured at each end to the upright b, between which and said upright a large spur-wheel, e, and a small spur-wheel,f, are journaled and mesh together. The shaft of the wheel 6 carries a crank, g, by which it may be rotated, and the shaft of wheel f carries a crank, 72, to the outer end of. which one end of a rod, k, is pivoted, the other end being pivoted to the arm E of a segmental beveled gearwheel, F, which is pivoted to a short stud, G, projecting from the cover H, and meshes with a cone or beveled gear wheel, F, on the end of a bolt, hereinafter described. This cover is provided with an offset, I, which fits down closely in the opening in top D, referred to above, so as to completely cover the tub B. To the under side of the cover H, at its center, is hung a plate, K, by means of a screwbolt and nut, m, the upper end of this bolt projecting through the cover and carrying the cone-gear F. The plate K has cast with it four knobs or projections, a, one on each corner, through each of which ahole is drilled in a longitudinal direction. To these knobs are hung the agitators L. These agitators, the plate K, and all other metallic parts which are within the tub or in direct contact with the suds are preferably of galvanized iron, as it is not disposed to rust and thereby injure the clothes. j

The agitators L are oblong in shape, their widest or butt ends being upward to conform to the shape of the tub B, which is flaring from its bottom upward, and in their butt-ends a recess is formed, so that they may be fitted over the knobs a and there hinged by a bolt passing through them and the knobs.

To regulate the distance apart of the lower ends of the agitators, and thus adjust the machine to the strength of the personoperating fastenings, to the uprights and rests on the tub it, and also for the purpose of securing the mnch'soiled small articles to be washed, I provide the four wires M, (clearly shown in Fig. 3,) the screw-bolt N, clamping disk or washers 00, ring P, and thnmb-nut R. The washer O is first placed upon the bolt N, then the ring P, and then the washer O and nut B. One end of each wire M is then secured in any suitable manner to the lower or pointed end of eaeh of the agitators and the other end passed through the ring P and outward, so that it will bear on both of the washers or clamping-disksO 0. It will thus be seen that the distance apart of the' lower ends of the agitators may be regulated with great nicety and firmly held :in their adjusted position by merely turning thethumb-nutRuntilit causes the disk 0 to clamp the wires securelybetween it, the disk 0, and the ring P, the latter also preventing them escaping to either side or away from the disks 0 O. The wires also prevent the formation of still water in the center of the tub, while the gradually-inereasing diameter oi the tub and agitators creates a current or boiling of the suds which is not attained by any circular machine of equaldiameter at all points between its bottom and top.

The clothes to be washed are first placed in the tub B, with suitable quantities of soap and water, the articles to which it is desired to give extra washing being placed within the space between the agitators. The crank g is then turned, which rotates the wheel 0. The latter, meshing with wheel f, rotates it, and through crank-arm. h and rod It gives an oscillating motion to the segment-gear F, which, meshing with cone-gear F, rapidly oscillates the plate K and the agitators in a steady uni- .form manner.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a washing-machine, the combination of the oscillatory plate K, the hinged agitators L, and wires M, for regulating the distance apart of the lower ends of said agitators, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. In a washing-machine, the combination of the plate K, the hinged agitators L, the wires M, and means for securing the free ends of said wires, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. In a washing-machine, the combination of the plate K, the agitators L, the wires M, the bolt N, the clampingdisks O O, the ring P, and thumb-nut It, substantially as and for the purpose described.

4; In a washing-machine, the combination of the flaring tub B, the cover H, having oftset I, the plate K, having the perforated knobs a, the bolt and nut m, the agitators L, the wires M, the bolt N, clampingdisks O O, the ring P, and thumb-nut R, snbslantiallyas and for the purpose described.

5. The combination, in a washing-machine, of the tub B, the cover H, the bolt and nut m, plate K, agitators L, wires M, the bolt N, clampingdisks O O, ring P, nut It, and means for oscillating the plate K, substantially as and for the purpose described.

6. The herein-described washing-machine, comprising a flaring tub, B, a cover, H, a plate, K, pivoted agitators L, the wires M, the screw bolt N, clamping disks or washers O O, the ring P, thumb-nut R, the cone-gear F, segmental gear F, arm 12, connecting-rod 76, upright I), crank-arm h, guard-plate (Z, gear or spur wheels 6 f, and crank y, allas and for the purpose specified.

7. The combination, in a washing-machine, of the plate K, agitators L, wires M, screwbolt N, clamping-disks O O, and means forholding the wires between the clamping-disks, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aftlxmy signatu rein presence of two witnesses.

JOHN M. GILMAN.

\Vitnesses:

HARVEY GILMAN, TILLARD MoIN'rrRn. 

